University Courses, Summer Schools and Webinars

2023-03-22

Summer School "PROMOWOOD - Promotion of wood as key element for achieving net zero"

The goal of the Summer School “PROMOWOOD”, jointly organized by the ETH-Domain initiatives MainWood & SCENE, the SwissForestLab and the NFZ.forestnet, is to provide a holistic view on the promotion of wood along the wood value chain. The topic will be addressed by focusing on different angles: Environmental issues (forest dynamics in a changing environment), socio-economic and policy frameworks, possibilities of new wood products, and transdisciplinary challenges (interlinkage of scientific disciplines, stakeholder dialog). The participants will reflect on their own scientific work with respect to other disciplinary methods and discuss possible benefits of interdisciplinary approaches in their field.

Date:  19 August 2023, 16:00 - 26 August 2023, 10:00
Location:  Davos, Switzerland
Organizers:  SwissForestLab, ETH Domain Joint Initiatives MainWood & SCENE, NFZ.forestnet  

Submit applications by: 1 May 2023

Details at:  https://swissforestlab.wsl.ch/en/events-and-outreach/summer-school/2023.html


2023-02-21

Modelling Assisted Migration to adapt forests and ecosystem services to climate change

Forest trees have evolved at species and population levels to adapt to the local environment in which they grow. Such local adaptations lead to genetically differentiated populations, with traits that enable them to adapt to biotic and abiotic stress factors. As climate changes, forest tree populations are likely to respond in three possible ways: adapt, migrate, or become locally extinct. Natural migration and adaptation are very slow processes that cannot keep up with rapidly changing climate, resulting in maladapted populations with reduced capacity to provide multiple ecosystem services. Given the limitations in tree migration and rapid adaptation, it has been increasingly realized that human-facilitated realignment will be required to match the populations to the environment to which they are adapted. Such facilitated movement is commonly referred to as assisted migration, assisted colonization, assisted relocation, or facilitated migration. This summer school aims to provide in-depth insight on Assisted Migration of forests in climate change with a focus on models to guide decision support. Participants will get hands-on experience in developing models to identify and spatially map adapted and maladapted populations of forest tree species in climate change. Candidates will also have a real-time understanding of the design, issues, and challenges of forest provenance trials through a guided excursion to provenance trials and forest nurseries.

Date:  30 July - 4 August 2023
Location:   Vienna, Austria
Organizers:  Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW) , The EVOLTREE network, and Czech University of Life Sciences (CULS)

Registration deadline:  15 April 2023

Details:  https://www.evoltree.eu/training/item/summer-school-modelling-assisted-migration-to-adapt-forests-and-ecosystem-services-to-climate-change


2022-11-22

MSU forestry non-credit online courses - Spring 2023

The Michigan State University Department of Forestry is pleased to offer the following non-credit course options for Spring 2023 for individuals interested in online learning. These courses are a great fit for those looking to expand their knowledge on topics of forestry outside of a degree-granting program.

Human Dimensions of Forest Carbon Management
Social dimensions associated with the development and implementation of forest-based climate change mitigation projects, including:  valuation of trees and forests by local communities vs. international community; community decision making; public participation; community engagement.
Contact:  Kylie Clay, kclay(at)msu.edu
Cost:  $865
Level:  Advanced

Human Dimensions of Forests
Social factors underlying human decisions about and conflicts over forest resources. Societal and citizen values, knowledge and behavior with respect to forest resources.
Contact:  Emily Huff, ehuff(at)msu.edu
Cost:  $725
Level:  Intermediate

Measurement and Monitoring of Forest Carbon
Skill-based training in forest carbon inventory and carbon accounting methods. National and international monitoring of forest carbon stocks. Applications of remote sensing and geospatial technologies to forest carbon inventory.
Contact:  David Skole, skole(at)msu.edu
Cost:  $865
Level:  Advanced

Michigan’s Forests
Ecological, social and economic roles of Michigan’s forests in historic and contemporary context. Geographic similarities and differences in forest resources.
Contact:  Jarred Saralecos, saraleco(at)msu.edu
Cost:  $600
Level:  Introductory

Natural Resource Policy

Natural resources policy-making in the context of scientific, environmental, social, and legal-institutional factors. Historical evolution of policies and case studies of contemporary policy issues.
Contact:  Emily Huff, ehuff(at)msu.edu
Cost:  $725
Level:  Intermediate

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Short & Mini Courses:

Understanding Forest Carbon Management
This self-paced course takes 6-8 weeks and runs throughout the year during the following periods:
May 9 - August 9 (2023)
August 9 - November 9 (2023)
January 9 - April 9 (2024)
This online short course designed to provide a robust introduction to the benefits of forest land management specific to carbon while offering clear action paths. Topic areas include carbon cycle and storage science, domestic and international policy overview, project case studies, management considerations, measurement basics, and available tools and support.

Forest Certification & Climate Change
This self-paced course takes 2-3 weeks and runs throughout the year during the following periods:
May 9 - August 9 (2023)
August 9 - November 9 (2024)
January 9 - April 9 (2024)
Learners will develop a robust understanding of forest land values and ecological services linking carbon management and climate change mitigation activities with forest certification.

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Date: 9 January - 30 April 2023
Venue: online
Organizers: Michigan State University, Department of Forestry
Contact:  FOR.forestce(at)msu.edu for questions.

Submit application by:  16 January 2023

Details:  https://www.canr.msu.edu/for/non-credit-courses/